It’s time say goodbye to that polka dot shirt you loved in the 80’s and the pleather pants that have been out of style since the dinosaur age. Decluttering and organizing the closet is a daunting task, but sometimes it just has to get done!

Step 1: Purge

The easiest way to begin organizing your closet is by getting rid of anything that’s too small, or that you know won’t be worn anymore. Sort everything into 3 major piles: Keep, Toss and Donate.

Many of us can become attached to what we own but if you haven’t worn it in the past 6 months and don’t see yourself wearing it in the next 6 months, it’s not worth keeping. Be mindful of what you chose to donate-nobody wants your dirty underwear or those holey socks of yours. Most charities want stuff they can sell to raise money, or give to the less fortunate to improve their quality of life.

It would be a good idea to create a separate pile for anything that needs repairs as well. This could include clothes that needs to be hemmed, zippers that need fixing or buttons that need to be sewn on.

Step 2: Start Anew

It may seem overwhelming at first but the best way to organize your closet is to start from scratch.

Take all the clothes out of your closet and put them on your bed. Separate them into logical groups based on style so they’re easier to put back later on. Then stand back and assess the space you have available to you to figure out the best way to maximize the space.

There’s one rule when it comes to organizing: it has to work for you and you need to be consistent. Whether you prefer to keep similar styles together (i.e. all dress shirts, then all t-shirts, etc.) or you prefer to organize by color, functionality is key. It’s always good to keep your clothes facing the same direction and have the hangers hooked the same way.

Try to keep more frequently worn items towards the front and less worn items towards the back. Items like dress shirts and dresses should be hung whereas t-shirts and shorts can be folded in a drawer.

Here’s a great article 7 Secrets for Organizing Small Spaces for more ideas on how to stay organized and avoid the clutter!

Step 3: Explore Your Options

Don’t limit yourself to the few feet worth of hanger space you get in your closet.

Consider investing in other storage options that can be placed at the top or bottom of your closet (or even under your bed).

For seasonal clothing, like a jacket or long johns, it may be advantageous to use a storage bin to store them either under a bed or in a basement. Why should they take up space for your new summer wardrobe? For smaller items like undergarments, socks, and accessories, small baskets are a great way to keep everything together and can be placed on top of your hanger rack to save space. There are plenty of in-closet storage options you can buy, like drawers, to leave room for your ‘must-hang’ items. If you notice you have excess t-shirts, fold them into a drawer instead of hanging them.

For women with an outrageous shoe collection, a hanging shoe rack can help store multiple shoes in less space than laying them out on the closet floor would. Find what works for you and stick with it.

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Melissa Maker is an entrepreneur, cleaning expert, founder of Toronto’s most popular boutique cleaning service, and star of the Clean My Space channel on YouTube (but she still hates to clean!). Every week, Melissa delivers new videos dishing expert advice on cleaning products, tools, DIY substitutes, and practical, timesaving solutions to everyday problems. Melissa has appeared on the Today Show, and has been featured in InStyle, Real Simple, and Better Homes and Gardens.

13 COMMENTS

  1. OMG Melissa you have become my newest hero.! I just recently retired and discovered you on YouTube and without hesitation I subscribe to your clean my space site. I made myself a cleaning kit with homemade cleaner, microfiber cloths, scrubbing pads etc. I’ve watched every video and started implementing your techniques and just enjoy cleaning now…amazing! I’ve deep cleaned my bathrooms and kitchen, purged alot of stuff…which I donated to a womans shelter, sorted and organized like a mad woman…lol, and I enjoyed doing it. My house was alway clean but now it’s spotless. Thank you for being such an inspiration and for making cleaning fun and simple. You and your husband are adorable and I wish you 2 all the best!
    Thanks again!

  2. My husband and I recently purged our entire house incuding our closets. We find having less has helped us immensely, not only with keeping our space clean but also with decisions like what to wear.

  3. These are really great tips. I’m a huge hoarder though I know I should learn to let go. Thanks for this post Amanda. I’m just starting to be organize. I hope I’ll be able to really stick with it.

  4. It’s always good to keep your clothes facing the same direction and have the hangers hooked the same way. Try to keep more frequently worn items towards the front and less worn items towards the back. Items like dress shirts and dresses should be hung whereas t-shirts and shorts can be folded in a drawer.

  5. These are great steps in organizing our bedroom closets. These tips are surely helpful to a lot of people who see this task as overwhelming. Thanks for sharing .

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